Health
A matrix for change Our past experiences can allow us to be governed by fear that holds us back from change. We are perpetually shying away from growth opportunities because it doesn't 'feel good'. Change does feel strange and that's OK, as long as you are prepared to push through it and get the reward on the other side, which is improving who you are as a person, ultimately leading to more happiness. Change is inevitable, progress is not. As the world spins around us we are constantly changing, the only problem is when we get stuck in our stagnant day-to-day and don't challenge ourselves to see things in a different way. When you set yourself a path and make the most of change and head towards your goals, you actively progress. Become an agent of change — the one that seeks out the challenges and dives in deep to the uncomfortable feeling when change is all around us. The only thing that stays the same is change. Effective acceptance of change takes personal trust in self. When we are growing up our emotional awareness is formed by the experiences we have. As adults we need to go back and question how much we trust ourselves, and if not, then work out how to build that trust. We no longer need to be governed by the beliefs that we created about ourselves as children. Start setting yourself small goals and set out to achieve them to build trust in yourself.
When chaos hits then these guys are the ones looking for the silver lining. If we take on this mindset, we can look for opportunities that would otherwise be turned down because we were too emotional and not ready for change. The person most able to change will succeed. We all do it, but ask yourself: how could I change my mindset to be more receptive to change and what effects would that have on my life? What would happen if I stayed resistant to change in five years? Our thoughts should be occupied with what we can control and influence. We can only focus our attention on a limited number of things in life, and if you allocate too many of them with worry then you are wasting your energy. The only things you can control are your own actions, thoughts, and beliefs. The rest is not worth stressing over. You need to be the cause of your own happiness. It’s all up to how you focus your attention. Are you always coming up with reasons why you can’t instead of reasons why you can? Where is all your brain power going? Rock this new change attitude with pride and call yourself up on any resistance you feel. Associate change with growth.
Change is not the end, it’s the beginning. Let's face it, we all need an adjustment period when new things happen. We need to wait for it to grow on us, and those of us who see it as an opportunity are the real winners.
Dani Ferrier is a life coach who runs empowerment workshops from Warwick House. Culturalchameleons
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